Hibiscus plant named ‘Nassau Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Nassau Wind’, characterized by its upright, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; large orange-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘NASSAU WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nassau Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense, uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in September, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2336, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘YOHIB 2361’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,623, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Aug. 12, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since January, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Nassau Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Nassau Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate         for container production.     -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   4. Large orange-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers.     -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are brighter orange in         color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘YOHIB 2362’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely branching than         plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus flower earlier than plants of         ‘YOHIB 2362’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘YOHIB 2362’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’ have bright yellow-colored         flowers with dark red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Mandarin Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/156,553 (abandoned). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Mandarin Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Mandarin Wind’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Mandarin Wind’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Mandarin Wind’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus had darker orange-colored flowers         than plants of ‘Mandarin Wind’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Nassau Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Nassau Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 38° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 24° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were 24 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Nassau Wind’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2336, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘YOHIB 2362’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,623. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of             24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,             compact, uniformly mounded and dense; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially develop at every node; pinching             enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 38.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 43 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 27 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 146A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 197A to 197B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse with cordate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N137A to             N137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Much darker             green than 147A; venation, much darker green than 147A.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N137B;             venation, close to 146A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: More green than 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped             flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely             flowering habit with about three to four flowers per             terminal; flowers face mostly upright.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower             naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of             warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7.9 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants             of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist flower bud             drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C.             Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid.             Color: Darker green than 144A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that             are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 8 cm.             Width: About 6.5 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; veins prominent on the             lower surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to             N25A; towards the base, close to 53B. When opening, lower             surface: Closest to 26A; towards the base, close to 48C.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 25A; towards the base,             close to 53B; color does not fade with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Closest to 26A; towards the base,             close to 48C; color does not fade with development.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; waxy.             Texture, lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144A to more green than 144A.         -   Bracts.—Appearance: About six to eight fused at base.             Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 6.5 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: More green than             147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.25 mm.             Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: More green than 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 55 per flower. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament             color: Close to 49C. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7.8 cm. Style             length: About 6.5 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy.             Style color: Towards the apex, close to 48C; towards the             base, close to 46A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 46A. Ovary color: Close to 11D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 38° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under     Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible     to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and     Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to     be resistant to pests and other pathogens. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Nassau Wind’ as illustrated and described. 